Machine for closing and positioning springs in pockets



April 5, 1938. f F. F. zElER 2,113,457

MACHINE FOR`CL|OSING AND POSITIONING SPRINGS IN POCKETS Filed Feb. 1o, 1934 s-sneets-sheet 1 ATTQRN April 5, 1938. F. F; zEn-:R 2,113,457 MACHINE FOR CLOSING AND POSITIONING SPRINGS IN POC Filed Feb. 1o,.19s4

KETS

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig Z6- 27 O l 0 l l l 0 April 5, 1938 F. F. zElEIR 2,113,457

u MACHINE FOR CLOSING AND POSITIONING SPRINGS IN POCKETSl t Filed Feb. l0, 1934 SSheetS-Sheet' Fig. 3.

ATToRN Patented pr. 5, 1938 MACHINE FOR CLUSING AND POSITIONING SPRINGS IN POCKETS Frederick F. Zeier, Nyack, N. Y.. assignor to Metropolitan Sewing Machine Corporation, Nyack, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 10, 1934, Serial No.'r710,657

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to a novel and improved machine for closing and positioning springs in pocketed strips.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an economical yet highly efii'cient machine for closing the open side ofpocketed strips containing contra-axially disposed springs in the pockets'thereof, and for moving the coil springs from the contra-axial to an axial position in the pockets of the Vstrip.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a machine fory turning springs in a pocketed strip which will not tear or wear the strip.

All efforts in this direction heretofore have resuited in very large, cumbersome, costly and therefore impractical machines. The present invention, however, provides a compact, economical and highly ei'iicient machine which is extremely practical, and which, in addition to providing a new structure and mode of operation for a spring turning device, provides other instrumentalities in the unitary structure which operate coordinately with the pocket closing element for performingadditional operations on the loaded strip to improve the quality and speed the output.

One feature of the present invention is the provision of a structure adapted to move contraaxially disposed coil springs in a proper trans' verse piane relative to the pockets in the strip.

30 Another feature is the provision of means adapted to straighten out the free lips of the fabric strip prior to operation thereon by the sewing mechanism. i'

A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of a device adapted to pink the side of the fabric strip associated with and functioning coordinately with other operating parts of the machine.

Yet another feature is the provision of a novel main conveyor adapted to both 'compress the coil springs within the fabric strip and to advance the loaded strip in a positive manner, which may be used eitherseparately or in conjunction with a puller feed mechanism.

A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of a novel spring turning apparatus which embodies a new mode of operation having the characteristic of being positive in its action and preventing wear and tear on the fabric strip. In addition, too, the present invention embodies the feature of accommodating various sizes of both strips and coil springs without any 'changes in the structural parts of the machine. Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a side view.

Fig` 3 is a perspective view of the fabric strip in. various stages of completion. 5

Fig; 4 is a detached side view of the guide.

Figs. 5, 6, and 'I are sectional views of the housing taken on lines and arrows 5, 6, and 1, respectively, in Fig. `1. 1

Fig.V 8 is a topview of the pinker detail.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the pinker.

Fig. 10 is a detached view of the puller feed mechanism.

Fig. 1l is a detail view of the'fabric straightening plate. Y

Fig.- 12 is a fragmentary top plan view.'

Before proceeding with a detailed description of the various structural details and mode of operation of the present invention, it is desirable that brief reference be made to the various `functions accomplished by it. k'I'his may be understood best by viewing. Fig. 3 wherein there is shown a pocketed fabric strip I2 comprising a woven strip having an upper ply I 3 and lower ply I4 with a closed side I5 and open side I6 25 to the strip, and having evenly spaced walls I'I dividing the strip into a. series of pockets I8 throughout its length. Preferably, though not necessarily, lthe dividing AWalls Il end somewhat short of the outer edge of the open side I6 form- 30 ing a. freeupper lip I3and a free lower lip Il for the purpose of facilitating original contraaxial entrance and assembly of coil springs I9 into individual pockets. The present invention is equally operative and advantageous on strips formed by merely folding oneply on another and yby stitching partly or fully thereacross to form pockets.

In its broadest embodiment, the machine of Y the present invention functions; first, to flatten 40 the springs I9 in the contra-axial position in the pockets I8; second, to guide the loaded strip I2 to a main conveyor 20; third, to` straighten the upper and lower free lips I3 and I4' respectively; fourth, to pink the open side I6 Iof the 45 strip; fifth, to compress', hold and feed the pocketed springs to a plurality of stations for various operations thereon; sixth, to close the pockets; seventh, to pull the fabric in synchronism with the pocket closing element and with the main conveyor; eighth, to move the springs from a contra-axial into an axial position within the closed pocket. If preferred, in some embodiments the third and fourth functions, for example, may be eliminated,`

Considering these multifarious functions, the present invention provides a comparatively simple, economical, yet very satisfactory and highly efcient machine. This will be appreciated when it is realized that in practice the operator practically allows the machine to run itself and may direct practically all his attention to the manual operation of sliding the pockets I8 onto the inserter-nozzle of a nearby inserter mechanism (not shown) and loading springs I9 therein, and steps on a pedal 22 to stop the machine of the present invention for a moment or two if it should happen to use up the ordinary intermediate surplusage of loaded strip at the introductory side thereof.

Structural details of the present invention, in the form now preferred, comprise a main base 23 supported in spaced relation to a floor by suitable legs 24, adapted to support a sewing head 25 which may, as shown, be a conventional and well-known Metropolitan type sewing machine passing threads 26 and 21 to a needle 28 and a looper respectively in the conventional manner and providing a usual presser foot 29 and feed dog 30. 'I'his sewing machine makes a line of stitching 3I to close the open side I6 as the fabric strip is moved to itin a manner about to be described.

At the entrance side of the machine the present invention provides a guide 32 including a table 33 or support preferably with a curved top 33' secured as by arms 34 on a shaft 35 to blocks 36 on long standards 31 with an inverted, U-

shaped shell 38. As may be seen best in Figs. 1

and 4, the guide further includes a free roller 39 on arms 40 secured to the base 23 by screws 40 overlying the table to initially compress the springs and to align them transversely in a contra-axial position in the pockets I8 as the strip I2 is drawn across the table. The inverted, U-shaped shell also serves to align the springs transversely, but mainly; it guides the loaded fabric strip properly depthwise of the machine, relative to the sewing machine head 25 and to the novel form of main conveyor 20.

.The main conveyor comprises an endless lower belt 4I operating below the base 23 over free running pulleys 42 and 43 on shafts 44 and 45 and above the base over a free pulley 46 on the shaft 35 at the entrance side of the machine, and over a traction or driver pulley 41 on a shaft 48 near the outlet side of the machine. The shafts 35 and 48 are supported in blocks 36 and 49 for adjustment in the long standards 31 and short standards 50 respectively to be adjustably xed at the proper vertical plane relative to a table 5I of the sewing head 25 and to other operating units. 'I'he shafts 44 and 45 of the lower free pulleys 42 and 43 are similarly mounted in slide blocks 52 and 53 for vertical adjustment on lower standards 54 and 55 respectively, the adjustment being provided to initially tighten the endless belt 4I on the driver pulley 41 and to take up slack as the belt stretches.

A complementary upper endless belt 56 is provided, to run in unison with the lower belt 4I, operating over a free running pulley 51 on a shaft 58 at the entrance side and over a driver pulley 59 on a shaft 60 at the outlet side of the machine;

'Ihe shaft 58 vof the free running pulley 51 is supported in blocks 6i for vertical adjustment on the long standards 31 where they are secured in desired position as by a set screw 6I. Straps 62 secured to the blocks 6I with screws 63 arel provided with a vertical bent section 62' having elongated slots 63 to accommodate holding screws 64 and are slidable vertically on the side of the sewing machine head 25 in order to brace the upper ends ,of the long standards 31 in any set position of the blocks. 'I'he shaft 60 of the driver pulley 59 is similarly mounted in adjustment blocks 65 on the double short standard 50, and is adjustable thereon in order to provide any desired spacing in the Work supporting area between the upper and lower belts 4I and 56. A set of straps 66 similar to the straps 62 are secured to the slide blocks 65 at their lower ends, and are provided with a screw and elongated slot connection 61 on the side of a puller feed mechanism 68 (similar to 63 and 64) to support the blocks in the desired vertical position and to brace the free end of the short standard 50.

As is shown most clearly in Fig. 1, the free running pulley 51 of the upper belt 56 is on a higher plane vertically than the driver pulley 59, and a frame 69 rotatably supporting a plurality of rollers 10 on pins 1I is provided to guide the belt through an angular path 12 and. then through a substantially parallel path relative to the upper run of the lower belt. This frame is supported by upwardly extending straps 13 and 14, having screw and elongated slot connections 13 and 14 on the straps 62 and 66 for adjustability.

While the coil springs I9 are in an unrestrained, expanded, contra-axial position in the individual pockets, they tend to pull back the open side of the strip midway between the dividing walls I1. However, the main conveyor, in addition to feeding the loaded strip to the sewing machine needle and to other stations, serves to compress the spring in the contra-axial position so that the open side ofthe strip remains substantially parallel and so that the line of stitching is parallel with the side thereof. The angular incline 12 of the belt gradually compresses the spring just prior to its entrance into the parallel area between the two belts.

This main conveyor 20 alone may be used to move the loaded strip to the various orating stations, but in order to insure a more satisfac-A tory result the present invention provides a puller feed mechanism 68 on a plane with the outer or open side of the strip and substantially central with the travel of the work relative to the needle. The puller feed mechanism may be of a conventional type, for example, and as shown, the well known Metropolitan puller feed mechanism comprising a main frame 68 with a lower feed roller 15 on one end of a drive shaft 16 extending through the frame, and an upper feed roller 11 mounted on a shaft 11 in a yoke 18 for limited vertical movement in an overlianging arm portion of the frame. is accomplished through the provision of a clutch 19 intermittently operated in a uni-directional movement by an arm connected to an eccentric 8| on the end of a main drive shaft 82 of the sewing machine, and the upper feed roll is driven in unison with the lower feed roller through meshing gears 83 and 84 connected to the shafts 16 and 11 respectively. The lower shaft 16 is provided with a small sprocket 85 adapted to drive a large sprocket 86 on the driver pulley 41 through a chain 86', and the` coordinately rotating shaft 11 of the upper feed roll is provided with a similar small sprocket 81 for moving a large sprocket 88 on the upper driver pulley through a chain 88'.

Rotation of the4 lower feed rollerv The ratio between the small sprockets and large sprockets is proportioned to impart the same peripheral speed or movement to the face of the driver pulleys 41 and 59, and to the puller feed rollers 15 and 11. The eccentric 8| and clutch 19 are adjusted to rotate the puller roll shaft 16 in proper speed and travel with the usual feed dogr and reciprocation of the needle 28 while the latter two are operated by the main drive shaft of the sewing machine' head 25 in the usual manner. Thus, there is absolute synchronized travel between the main conveyor 28, the feeddog 38 and the puller feed 88. A

This strip advancing mechanism comprising the main conveyor 28 and/or the puller feed 68 of the present invention is intended to be used not alone for advancing the strip to the needle for the line of stitching, but advances it to a plurality of other stations to be worked upon by other mechanisms.

One of these other stations includes a fabric straightening device including a finger plate 89 secured to the standard 31 with ayoke 89 andy adapted to enter between the free lips of the fabricto straighten out either or both-the upper lip I3' and the lower lip I4' if either should happen to be curled in from the spring inserting operation; and also includes a belt 98 on a -free running upper pulley 9| supported in a standard 9| and running around a lower pulley 92 secured to a lower drive shaft 93, which is adapted to sweep against the underside and straighten out the lower lip should it happen to be curledback on the outside ofthe fabric strip. In those cases where a strip with dividingV walls extending to' the outermost edge of the open side is used, so that the dividing walls would hook onto the finger plate 89, it is merely necessary to loosen the yoke on the standard 31 and swing it out of operative position relative to the strip.

At another station,` preferably intermediate the straightening device 89 and sewing mechanism 25, the present invention is provided with a pinking device 94 (see Figs. 8 and 9)A adapted to cut a serrated edge 96' on the open side I6 of the strip |2 to prevent unravelling of long lengths of the warp which would otherwise curl around the feed dog and otheroperating parts of the' machine and cause trouble. When the open side of the fabric is provided witha selvage this trouble would not occur and it would not be necessary to use the pinker. Various types of pinkers may; be used in the combination of the present invention,

but because of its simplicity, long life, and ease,

of operation, a slight modication of the wellknown Metropolitan pinker is used, as is shown most clearly in Figs. 8 and 9. It comprises a base member supporting a zigzag cutting roll.96 for uni-directional rotation on a shaft 91 and having anni-directional clutch 98 with an arm v98 providing an adjustable connection 99 with a. connecting rod |88 associatedvat its opposite end with an eccentric |8| on the forward end of the main drive shaft 82. A yoke |82 4 having a pivotal connection on a pin |83 supports a pressure rollen` |84 on a stud |85 at its outerenrl,

while a stud |88 secured to the base member 95 and passing'through a hole in the yoke above which it is provided with a coil spring |81 and wing nut |88 is adapted to alter pressure 4of the roller.

The pinker 94 is not shown fully in the plan views since it is used only sometimes, vand because it would confuse the other details. However, it is shown there by dot and dash lines |89, for it is merely necessary to take Jthe device shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and secure it to the main base of the machine with screws ||8 in the tapped holes shown clearly in Fig. 1. By proper adjustment of the connection 99 the peripheral speed of the cutter wheel is in the same ratio as the main conveyor 28, feed ldog 38, and pulle'r feed 88.

The nal station to which the main conveyor 28 and puller feed 88 of the present invention moves the loaded fabric strip is a spring turning, or positioning device ||2 at the outlet side of the machine which is of particularly novel construction and represents a new mode of operation for devices of this character. It embodies a table ||3 suitably secured to the base 23 thatsupports a housing ||4 adapted to substantially enclose the fabric strip |2 as it ais fed from the machine and to support one side of the loaded fabric strip while a unidirectional spring turning instrumentality l|5 in the form of beater straps operates on the `other side to turn the spring.

The housing is provided with an entrance ||8 Y lpreferably as shown in Fig. '1. The underside of the table ||3 is hollowed out and has a cutout ||3 underlying the middle section of the A,son

housing ||4 in order to permit the beater strap v ||5 to engage the loaded fabric.

The straps are preferably secured to cross pins |28 on a hub |2| mounted on the outer end of an operating shaft 93. The 'straps may have metal clips |22 secured to the ends thereof by rivets |23 in order to lessen wear and to impose a hammer-like impact upon the springs.

As the loaded fabric I2 with the contra-axially disposed springs I9 is fed to the housing ||4, subsequently to the closing thereof bythe line of stitching 3|, the beater straps ||5 which are rotated@ at a fairly high speed, initially engage the contra-axially disposed springs, as shown in Fig. 5, and cause the spring to begin to move toward the axial position in the pocket, and subsequent blows by the beater straps cause it to move into the full axial position (shown in-Fig. 6) wherein the jumping of the spring into the axial position is facilitated by ther centrally disposed. convexity ||1 and the [concavlty ||8 extending therefrom.

4Figure 6 also shows the fabric out of a transverse plane which is caused'by the spring as it quickly expands v. into the axial positionwithin the The upper. part of the tunnel ory housing ,designated as the convexity I |1' causes a retarding in y thefeeding of the stripbyslightly holding back the previously opened spring in the pocket, which in turn provides an automatic positioning of the spring to be opened and gives the beater sufi'lcient timeto turn the spring in the pocket. :.liheY length of the tunnel or housing is approximately twice the diameter of the coil spring.

Th'pin connection |28 on the hub |2| which provides a free pivotal connection for the straps I I5 so that they travel` in Extended position by centrifugal force, allows the straps toI yield or lay backi the spring should be .caught inthe pocltet |8,--and the curved walls.||1 and ||8 facilitate turning the springs. Thus, either or both these structures overcome wear andtear on the'I fabric strip. Further, the travelling instrumentality 5 working in one direction'on only onex moved onto the top run side of the strip causes less pull and strain on the fabric than some previous proposals working and travelling on two sides of the strip.

Movement of the fabric through an equivalent 90 degrees while turning the spring from the contra-axial into the axial position is prevented by general holding of the loaded strip by the main conveyor 20 and puller feed 68, and by the axially disposedsprings sliding upon the angular facing |24 of the table ||3.

Operation of the complete machine is preferably accomplished with a single electric motor |25 or other prime mover below the machine connected to a source of power |26 having a switch |21 and cord |28 adapted to drive a belt |3| extending to a main drive pulley |32 on the end of the main drive shaft 82 on the sewing machine 25, and a second pulley |33 adapted to drive a second belt |34 to an intermediate pulley |35 on an intermediate shaft |36 mounted on a set of double standards |31 and drive an intermediate belt |38 from a small pulley |38' on the. intermediate shaft to a large pulley |38 on the drive shaft 83. This latter shaft operates the fabric straightening belt 80 and the beater straps ||5 in the manner hereinbefore described. Thus, the one prime mover through the belt |3| is adapted to operate the feeding dog 30 and reciprocate the needle 28 in the sewing head, and through the main drive the eccentric |0| on the forward end to drive the connecting rod |00 and impart uni-directional movement to the pinker 84, and through the eccentric 8| on the rear end thereof operates the "Y connecting rod 80 to impart unidirectional movement to the set of feed rolls 15 and 11 and to 'the interconnected main conveyor 20, while the second belt |34 drives the interm diate belt |38 and shaft 83 to straighten the fabric with the belt 80, and to change the position of the springs I8 within the pockets I8 with the beater straps i5.

A slip clutch |40 is provided intermediate the pulley |28 and the armature shaft |4| in order to quickly break the driving connection and to quickly start it again by merely stepping on the pedal 22. A suitable linkage |42 is provided be-` tween the pedal 22 and clutch |40 to intermittently start and stop operation. 'I'he speed of the machine is adjustable with the slip clutch from a minimum or zero to maximum by the foot pedal control which can be moved at the will of the operator, and gives the operator an opportunity to either speed up the work of the sewing unit or slacken it down asvthe occasion demands.

In using the machine of the present invention the following steps occur: the woven fabric strip |2 or a-n otherwise formed pocketed strip has coil springs I8 inserted in each of the pockets 8 in contra-axial position, either by hand or by one of the now well-knownlspring inserting machines to build up a considerable surplusage of loaded strip, and then the leading edge of the loaded strip is passed onto the table 33, thence lunderthe roller 38 and through ,the guide. 38 to be straightened and guided thereby to the othermain operating parts. Next the leading edge is ofthe lower belt 4|v and under the angular stretch y12 of the upper belt .58 to be gradually compressed by the angular run 12, and into the confining area between the two belts, thence running, by slow power if preferred, to the sewing mechanism 25 and to the puller feed mechanism 68, andsubsequently to the spring turning device shaft 82 thereof operates ing device interfitting ||2 as the strip passes from the outlet side of the machine.

.The upper puller feed roll 11 may be lifted while starting the strip through stepping upon and actuating a pedal |43 and chain |44 connection with a conventional lever lift (not shown) connected to the roller yoke 18. Theopen side |6 of the strip may be led over the straightening place 88 and onto the pinker device 84 as the strip is initially passed to the main conveyor 20, or these latter two devices may be moved into operative position after the leading edge of the loaded strip has passed through the entire machine.

When the strip is properly started and the motor actuated by closing the switch |21, it is merely necessary to step on the clutch lpedal 22 in order to cause the machine of the present invention to successfully and in combination perform the various operations ,hereinbefore described in detail; viz, straighten the springs ln the pockets, guide the lips, trim the open side thereof, form a line of stitching, and then with the novel spring turning instrumentality `of the present invention change the spring from a contra-axial to the axial position in the individual pockets. The feeding elements are so positive, and the coaction of the function performing parts so satisfactory, that output of the present machine is limited only by the speed of the preparatory coil winding and inserting machines.

Operative parts of theconveyor belts 4| and 56 are located under the arm of the sewing machine and arm of the puller feed mechanism I8-, which is a great help to make the machine and theinstallation very compact. In other words,

the Astrips loaded with springs pass to the right of the line of stitching as viewed in Fig. 2, which ,helps to keep the strips under better control relative to the sewing.

The structure of the present invention is so` the loaded strip, straighten set of slots for the various widths when a wing nut |41 secures the two guide parts 38 and 38 together.

The relationship of the open side of the strip is always the same in connection with the needle and puller feed, andconsequently the rear plate' 38' of the guide -38 is the only one that need be changed. As pointed out hereinbefore, the upper belt 56 of the main conveyor 20 may be raised :sov

or lowered to accommodate contra-axially disposed springs of greater or less length.

Similarly, the housing ||4 of the spring turn- ||2 is adapted to be adjusted for springs of various lengths by the provision of an connection |49 including a recess |50 in the housing part v|5| adapted to receive a of the housing, and a slot |53 on the tongue adapted to receive a key |54 on the convex member ||1. A stud |55 on the latter member passing through elongated slots |56 and |51 locks the various parts together when a wing nut |58 is tightened. The housing is also adjustable in .height to accommodate various diameter springs by the provision of substantially L-shaped straps |58 with fingers |60 adapted to enter any one of a plurality of vertically spaced notches |6| to support the housing at various heights relative to the table IIS, and provided-with elongated slots |62 and screws |63' in feet |64 thereof to hold the housing to the table in its various widths and heights.

rVariations and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention, and

portions of the improvements may be used withf and to advance the strip to the sewing head; a

support at the entrance side of the machine over which the loaded strip passes to the pair of endless belts; and an inverted U shape shell associated with the support adapted to align the' springs relative to the pockets and strip prior to compression thereof by the endless belts.

2. In a machine for closing a pocketed strip of fabric having an open side with an upper and a lowerfree lip, andhaving coil springs in the individual pockets thereof, the combination of a sewing head; means for directing and moving the open side and free lips of the pocketed strip with coil springs to the sewing head, to be closed thereby; a plate adapted to straighten the upper free lip; and a driven belt adapted to straighten the lower free lip, prior to `operation on the strip by the sewing head.

3. In a machine for closing a pocketed strip of fabric having an open side with free lips and coil springs in the individual pockets thereof, the combination of a pocket closing element means for directing and moving the open side and free lips of the strip to the pocket closing element; and means adapted to positively move the free lips from an improper folded back position to a proper at position prior to the operation thereon by the pocket closing element.

4. In a machine for closing a pocketed strip with coil springs contra-axially disposed in the individual pockets thereof, the combination of a a sewing head; a pair of endless belts for con` 55 veyinz the loaded strip to the sewing head; a

roller frame adapted to impart an angular and parallel run to one belt relative to the other belt for first partially .compressing and for then fully compressing the spring in the' pocketed strip; and means adapted to support the upper belt and roller frame in various planes and heights relative to the other belt.

6. An instrumentality for turning coil springs in the pockets of a strip, comprising a stationary housing having a substantially rectangular opening adapted to receive the spring loaded strip; moving means cooperating with said housing to turn the coil springs from a contra-axial into an axial position in the pockets; and means for 'enlarging the opening in said housing both vertically and horizontally to accommodate various sizes of strips and coil springs.

7. An instrumentality for turning coil springs in the pockets of a strip, comprising a stationary housing adapted to receive the spring loaded strip; curved walls within said housing; and moving means cooperating with said curved walls within the housingto'turn the coil springs from a contrasaxial into an axial position in the pockets.

8. In a machine for turning coiled springs in a pocketed strip, the combination of a housing adapted to receive said pocketed strip; and a beater mechanism cooperating with said housing to turn the springs from a contra-axial to an axial position within the individual pockets of the strip. f

9. In a" machine for turning coiled springs in I a pocketed strip, the combination of a housing adapted to receive said pocketed strip; aconveyor for advancing the loaded pocketed strip to the housing; and a beater mechanism cooperating with said housing to turn the springs from a contra-axial to an axial position within the individual pockets of the strip.

10. In a machine for turning coiled springs in a pocketed strip, the combination of a housing adapted to receive said pocketed strip; and means cooperating with said housing to'turn the springs from a contra-axial into an axial position within the individual pockets of the strip.

11. In a machine for turning coiled springs in a pocketed strip, the combination of a housing adapted to receive said pocketed strip; a

conveyor for advancing the loaded p'ocketed strip to the housing; and means cooperating with said housing to turn the springs from a contra-axial :sol

into an axial position within the individual pock- 

